Valentino was only about a day old when
a horse-rescuer named Kelly found him struggling down a stockyard aisle on his
knees. Male calves are considered “byproducts” of the dairy industry since they
won’t produce milk, and are typically raised for veal or cheap beef. Because of
Valentino’s leg deformities, however, he was considered an unmarketable
“defective” and would have been left to die had Kelly not stepped in. His leg
problems were so bad that Kelly’s vets suggested euthanasia, but she reached out
to Farm Sanctuary instead. At Cornell University Hospital for Animals, we
discovered that Valentino was also suffering from vagal syndrome, a condition
where the esophageal groove fails to close, allowing milk to enter the rumen
where it ferments and causes painful bloating. Valentino has since been treated
and is now able to ruminate normally. Due to his small size, he was also
diagnosed with dwarfism. Some of Valentino’s leg issues have improved, but may
become more problematic as he grows. However, he is happy and playful despite
his early struggles.

This custom tote bag was created by Stephanie Conrad, an
artist and animal rights advocate based in Austin Texas. The tote bags are all
hand printed in the USA.